Friday, November 28, 2014

Welcome to the beautiful Limahuli Garden on the north shore
of the island of Kauai. Limahuli Garden
and Preserve is one of the National Tropical Botanical Gardens, located in the 1,000
acre Limahuli valley and the home to nearly 250 taxa of native plants and birds. Out of Hawaii’s 1200 native plant species about
114 are already extinct and approximately 50 or less individuals of the 300
native species are remaining in the wild. Mostly all of the native plants in the Limahuli Gardens are extremely rare and known to be endangered. The mission of the National Botanical Garden is to preserve the Limahuli
Valley and its ancient Hawaiian plants in their natural setting and save them from extinction. On a recent visit to the island of Kauai I had the extraordinary pleasure of observing and learning about the history of these gardens first hand…an amazing and unforgettable experience!

Limahuli Garden and Preserve-Makana Mountain in Backdrop

Limahuli Garden and Preserve Restoration Project Ancient Home Site

Limahuli Garden and Preserve Traditional Hawaiian Hale HouseSurrounded by majestic Makana mountains and lush tropical rain forest the culture of the ancient Polynesians is preserved through this traditional Hawaiian hale house that was reconstructed on the footprint of an ancient house site in a 2013 restoration project led by cultural elders. The ancient Hawaiians constructed the hale house of tropical resources which were and still are very abundant, thus respecting and protecting the forest community of the Limahuli valley. Throughout the gardens are also lava rock terraces that were built by Limahuli's early inhabitants.

Limahuli Valley

Limahuli Valley

Citrus reticulata (Tangerine)

Known as Mandarin Orange in other parts of the world, Citrus reticulata (Tangerine) was brought to the Hawaiian Islands in 1825.

Limahuli Garden and Preserve

Mai'a Rare Hawaiian Banana Tree

Olena (Tumeric Curcuma longa)

Olena (Tumeric Curcuma longa) is important in Asian cuisine but was traditionally used for medicine and ceremony in Hawaii and is still used in medicine today.

Limahuli Garden and Preserve

Tropical Hibiscus

Bird of Paradise Strelitzia reginae. Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae), an iconic symbol of Hawaii is neither native nor introduced by Polynesians. It came to Hawaii in the 19th century as an ornamental.

Bromeliad

Hawaiian Ti Plant (Cordyline fruticosa)in Plantation Era Garden

Cordyline fruiticosa (Hawaiian Ti Plant) was considered to be sacred by the early Hawaiians and the symbol of high rank and power. It was worn or carried in ancient ceremonies as protection from evil spirits and is still used today in modern rituals. It's waxy leaves repel water and have many uses. In cooking they are used as a wrapper for storing and cooking food, in building as thatch for housing and in clothing for sandals and rain gear. Red varieties of Ti have been introduced to Hawaii and hybridized to produce many beautiful foliage colors and are reproduced from seed.

Hala (Pandanus tectorius)

Hala is a native plant of Hawaii as discovered in 1993 when a preserved haha branch dating back to 1.4 million years ago was discovered in a broken lava rock near Hanalei Bay. Native Polynesians also brought over Hala to use for weaving into mats, baskets, flooring and pillows and also for the sails for their canoes.

Pandanus tectorius (Hala Tree) Fruit

The female Hala plant produces a fruit which resembles that of a pineapple. When ripe the cluster of fruit breaks into separate fleshy parts that were known to be eaten during times of famine.

Limahuli Stream

Limahuli Stream is a freshwater source beginning at the top of the valley at 3,330 feet (1,015 meters) above sea level and plummeting over an 800-foot (244 meter) waterfall before reaching the valley floor and continuing to the ocean. Many unique animals and plants live in the Limahuli Stream including all five species of Hawaiian freshwater fish. The value of freshwater to the Hawaiian culture is expressed in their language with wai meaning "fresh water" and lani being the word for "heaven,sky"; hence Wailani=heavenly water.

Araucaria columnaris (Cook Pine) Limahuli Garden and Preserve

Araucaria columnaris (Cook Pine) was introduced into Hawaii as a landscaping and lumber tree and is the most common Araucaria species in Hawaii. The striking foliage on these trees resembles that of a Norfork Pine but finer and more wispy...just beautiful along with the mountains in the backdrop.

Limahuli Garden and Preserve

Limahuli Garden and Preserve

Alpinia purpurata (Red Ginger Flower)Alpinia purpurato (Tahitian Red Ginger)was an introduction to Hawaii and is one of over 1,300 species of ginger that can be found around the world. Each flower is actually a clump of red spikes that grow out of the end of a long, leafy green stalks that can grow up to 6 to 7 feet in height. Red Ginger are not edible but are great as a cut flower and can be found in many Hawaiian tropical flower arrangements.

Limahuli Native Forest Walk

Limahuli Native Forest Walk

Alula (Brighamia insignis)-Endangered Species

Alula (Brighamia insignis) Endangered Species

Alula is an unusual, almost prehistoric looking plant that is native to Kauai and extinct in other parts of the world. Once found on the windswept sea cliffs of Kauai, Alula suffered a serious decline in population from Hurricane Iniki destroyed half the natural population along the NaPali Coast in 1992, leaving only one remaining growing in the wild. According to the U.S. Botanic Garden, the only pollinator for the plant was a now extinct "hawk moth". Alula can now only produce seed when artificially pollinated by humans. Thanks to conservation efforts, the endangered Alula has been preserved in National Botanical Garden's Limahuli Garden and Preserve, saving the plant from extinction.

Limahuli Garden and Preserve

Araucaria columnaris (Cook Pine) Limahuli Garden and Preserve

Queen Emma or Spider Lily

Bread Fruit, Ulu (Artocarpus altilis)

Originating from the South Pacific, Breadfruit orUlu, as it is named in Hawaiian, was one of the few life-sustaining plants the Polynesians brought with them when they sailed to the Hawaiian Islands. The fruit and seeds of all three species are edible and very nutritious filled with vitamin B, calcium and complex carbohydrates. When cooked the taste of breadfruit is
described aspotato like or similar to freshly baked bread. Ulu turns into a sweet and gooey fruit when very ripe but is more nutritional when unripe. It also has many other uses as it has played a part in the making of construction materials, medicine, fabric, glue, insect repellent and animal feed. Ulu is known as the "tree of bread" in Hawaii.

Cordyline fruticosa Cameroon (Fancy Ti Plant)

Limahuli Garden and Preserve Visitor Center

Here we are back at the visitors center. If you are in the area of the north shore of Kauai be sure to give these magnificent gardens a look. The views of the gardens are amazing and the staff are wonderful and very helpful. Limahuli Garden was selected by the American Horticultural Society as one of the best natural botanical gardens in the United States and has both self guided and guided walking tours available Tuesday through Saturday 9:30-4:00 pm. Since it is the windward side of the island and a tropical rain forest chances are it could be raining so bring rain gear just in case and enjoy!

Limahuli Garden and Preserve

North Shore of the Island of Kauai, state of Hawaii

5-8291 Kuhio Highway, Haena, HI 96714

I hope you enjoyed the virtual tour. Visiting the Limahuli Gardens was like a journey back in time to a natural undisturbed rainforest with native plantings, a view of the misty mountains above and Pacific Ocean below...a majestic view that will take your breath away...an experience I will always remember.For further information visit Limahuli Gardens and Preserve.Aloha.

Thursday, November 20, 2014

I recently had the opportunity of visiting the San Francisco Botanical Garden located within Golden Gate Park in the Bay Area of San Francisco, California. The gardens offer 55 acres of native plantings, landscaped regions and open spaces showcasing over 8,000 different kinds of plants from around the world. The San Francisco Bay Area's mild temperatures, wet winters, dry summers and famous coastal fogprovide a range of climatic conditions that exist in few other botanical gardens and when combined make some of the most ideal growing conditions for a multitude of plants. Ienjoyed the experience of observing a vast variety of plants, many which I had never seen before, all in one location. Come along for the tour!

San Francisco Botanical Garden: Succulent Garden

There are several collections of gardens to visit including the Mesoamerican Cloud Forest, California Native Garden, Redwood Grove, Succulent Garden and the gardens of Central and South America, Temperate Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the Mediterranean region to name just a few. These plants are mostly unfamiliar to me and I tried to get as many names as I could so bear with me. I labeled the species that I was able to see tags for. Feel free to assist if you recognize any of the unlabeled plants.

San Francisco Botanical Garden

These flowers were blooming all over the gardens in November. I am not sure of the name but is looks like Agapanthus, or Lily of the Nile. I only know of the blue and white varieties but these were beautiful!

San Francisco Botanical Garden

This attractive yellow flower was blooming profusely in early November.

This magnificent bloom really caught my eye! Protea is a beautiful winter blooming plant that is native to South Africa. Each large blossom is made up of hundreds of individual flowers. Also, Protea's leathery leaves are known to protect the plant from dehydration.

San Francisco Botanical Garden

San Francisco Botanical Garden Aloe arborescens Close Up (South Africa)

Here is a close up of Aloe arborescens (yellow form) along the garden path.

Rhopalostylis sapida known as Nikau Palm is New Zealand’s only palm making it one of the most easily recognized plants. Nikau Palm produces purple flowers in Spring that are followed by brilliant-red berries which hang from just below the base of the leaves that turn to seeds and are a food source for wildlife.

San Francisco Botanical Garden Cloud Forest

San Francisco Botanical Garden: Spanish Moss (Cloud Forest)

The Mesoamerican Cloud Forest features plants typical of high elevation plant communities in southern Mexico and Central America. It was initially planted in 1984 and has matured to represent a typical cloud forest with trees, shrubs, ferns, vines and epiphytes. As part of a preservation program seeds were collected from rare and endangered cloud forest species from around the globe over a period of thirty years. San Francisco's unique mild and foggy climate allows these plants to grow successfully outdoors.

San Francisco Botanical Garden: Lagoon and Palms

San Francisco Botanical Garden

San Francisco Botanical Garden

This lovely plant had no tag on it but I believe it is Cordyline australis 'Red Sensation' from researching.

San Francisco Botanical Garden

San Francisco Botanical Garden

The gardens are full of these bright pink and orange blooms in November...

San Francisco Botanical Garden

and tropical like foliage.

San Francisco Botanical Garden

San Francisco Botanical Garden

Steps and paths meander through this raised lush garden.

San Francisco Botanical Garden

San Francisco Botanical Garden Conservatory of Flowers

In Golden Gate Park the Conservatory of Flowers is the oldest public wood-and-glass conservatory in North America opening to the public in 1879. Declared as a city, state and national historic landmark, the Conservatory remains one of the most photographed and favored attractions in San Francisco.

Redwood Grove is one of
the many beautiful areas within the San Francisco Botanical Garden. This century old grove is full of fog-loving towering giants known as Coast Redwoods or Sequoia
sempervirens. Giant Redwood represent
the tallest living things on Earth and have been drastically reduced by
extensive logging during the past 150 years. The coast redwoods at San
Francisco Botanical Garden were planted around the turn of the 20th century and
are among the oldest trees in the Botanical Garden. Over the past forty years over 100 species of related plants have been added to create and preserve a typical
redwood forest.

San Francisco Botanical Garden

I hope you enjoyed the virtual tour of the San Francisco Botanical Garden. I found the gardens to be both beautiful and educational and was amazed over the vast diversity of plants from all over the world contained in one location. The total 1,017 acreGolden Gate Park also includes the Conservatory of Flowers, Japanese Tea Garden, numerous museums, lakes, trails, playgrounds, picnic groves and monuments.For more information on the San Francisco Botanical Gardens and Conservatory of Flowers visit here.

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Welcome!

Welcome to A Guide to Northeastern Gardening. I am a landscape/garden designer, consultant and published book author of "A Guide to Northeastern Gardening-Journeys of a Garden Designer" and "Landscape Design Combinations". Involved in the horticultural field since 1996, I started this blog so that I could share my love of gardening with others. Join me for over 200 articles on general gardening, landscape design principles, gardening tips, planting, pruning, garden maintenance, feature plants and more. I look forward to and welcome your comments and will try my best to answer any questions that you may have. Thank you for visiting and do come back often! Happy Gardening! ~ Lee (A Guide to Northeastern Gardening)

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About Me

My husband and I live on the South Shore of Long Island, New York. I am a retired educator of 32 years, have been designing landscapes since 1996, and am the owner of my own landscape design business. My love of spending time in the garden has been and will always be a part of me. I started off by designing the gardens of friends and neighbors. With the encouragement of friends I decided to further my education in horticulture and design and became a landscape designer. I started up my business which grew by word of mouth and became what it is today. With shovel in hand since the age of five my love for creating now continues. When not designing I can be found in my own gardens planning the next addition...a never ending process. "A garden is an extension of its owner...a thing of beauty that constantly changes and can be enjoyed forever..."

Plant Hardiness Zone Maps

Hardiness Zones 3-9

The plants discussed in this blog are mainly hardy to zones 3-9. See individual plant details and the zone maps below for more information. An interactive USDA Map is located in the top navigation bar.